South West Reserves for the 21st Century  

by  Simon Stennet
Tuesday, 9th February 2010

 

Simon is the RSPB SW Regional Reserves Manager.  He was brought up in the countryside, started volunteering for the RSPB in 1992 and went on to be involved in the restoration in 1993/4 of disused Yorkshire coalfields into nature reserves.  He had slides illustrating the “before and after“, showing wonderful lakes, reedbeds and grassland at reserves such as Old Moor.

 

The RSPB currently has 206 reserves, 22 of which are in the South West Region.  The region also has 2 shops and 2 field teaching schemes and employs 63 full and part-time staff.  The budget to run the reserves in 2009/10 is £2.5million, of which £2.05million comes from grants and trading.

 

The purpose of maintaining reserves is obviously to save, restore or create habitat for birds and wildlife generally. 

 

Political support is essential and for this reserves must show benefits to the public too.  In addition to providing enjoyment, they can assist in promoting a healthy lifestyle and in education.  The quality and quantity of water can be improved on reserves, and flood risk management carried out.  Peatlands store carbon, which stays locked in

whilst the peat is undisturbed.

 

A show of hands confirmed that most of the audience are convinced by the evidence of climate change and certainly it is a major consideration in managing reserves for the future.  So let’s hope the boffins are right and it’s not only to justify money- making schemes!   Simon showed evidence such as comma butterfly distribution moving north, likewise dartford warbler numbers dropping in Iberia and increasing in the north of their range.  In the ‘big squeeze’ to move north there will be winners and losers, of course.  The losers being those which have nowhere further north to go.

 

So, what can be done?  Firstly of course, we must protect what we have, and help them in their northward movement by supplying ‘stepping stones’.  Big is best, not only in reserve size, but in bird numbers.  The first reserve which the RSPB purchased, in 1930, was Cheyne Court, Romney Marsh but it was sold 20 years later as drainage of the surrounding land made it unsustainable on its own.  So it is important to try to join up reserves with other restored or improved habitats and this is being done in co-operation with public bodies and other land owners.  This is happening around Arne and Aylesbeare, which may become core areas for dartford warblers in their gradual move northwards.  £3million has been spent on the stone curlew project centred on Manor Farm, a chalk grassland area in Wiltshire.  Which seems a lot for 5 pairs of stone curlew!!  But it adjoins Porton Down, a similar habitat, and is close to Salisbury Plain and is therefore all the more valuable.  Birds are not the only beneficiaries, insects including butterflies also gaining habitat.

 

Plans have also to be made to react to rising sea levels.  Much of Arne and Marazion reserves may become tidal salt marsh, so work is being done to improve the safer areas.  Exminster Marshes help to protect Matford business park from flooding, a political plus!  And schemes are projected for a managed realignment of the Clyst, Goosemoor being the 1st stage.  Massive habitat restoration at Ham Wall has resulted in 7 breeding pairs of bittern, so if the Minsmere population becomes threatened by tidal surges, “not all our bitterns are in one basket” as Simon put it!  Much work is ongoing to vastly improve Radipole Lake, which now has otters too!

 

On the management front, reedbeds are the most expensive to conserve.  The reed must be cut and waterways kept clear.  A new amphibious reed-cutter saves many man hours, as does a soft track cutter which also picks up the cut reed.  This is being made into compost and sold – you have probably read about the project.  If good enough, reed can be sold for thatching.  Otherwise, it can be mixed with wood chip and made into solid fuel pellets.  These, along with wood chip from trees removed from heathland, can also be sold to offset costs.

 

Opportunities to promote the work of the RSPB include Darts Farm and the Avocet Cruises, also new reception buildings at Arne and Radipole.  Educational schemes on site and in schools help to interest young people in birds and wildlife, and can attract grant support.

 

Simon may have regretted inviting questions, as better viewing facilities at Exminster Marshes were obviously high on members’ wish list!

 

That this was a very thought-provoking and enjoyable talk was confirmed by the enthusiastic round of applause from a satisfying turnout of members on a cold night!

 

Pat Thomson